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Remembering Danlee Mitchell

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Danlee at Flower Mountain, Bali | Photo courtesy of Anita Mitchell

The Center for World Music mourns the loss of Professor Danlee Mitchell (October 5, 1936–July 31, 2024), a cherished board member who has been pivotal in shaping the organization since the early 1990s.

A pillar of the San Diego music community, Danlee served as professor of percussion in the School of Music and Dance at San Diego State University (1964-2001), where he was much loved as a teacher and known especially for his tireless advocacy for world music. A renowned percussionist, he achieved distinction nationally for directing and performing with the Harry Partch Ensemble and locally for his performances with the San Diego Symphony, the La Jolla Symphony & Chorus, and the San Diego Opera.

As a passionate music archivist, Danlee meticulously captured performances across genres through audio and video recordings, preserving countless artistic moments for future generations.

We are profoundly grateful for Danlee’s decades of dedicated, steadfast contribution to our mission. His legacy will continue to inspire us, and we will hold his memory close in our hearts.

Danlee Mitchell playing Partch instruments (1987) | Photo: Randy Hoffman

Danlee’s life touched so many of us and he will be greatly missed.

The Center for World Music proudly dedicates its 2025 Concert Series to the memory of Danlee Mitchell.

To learn more about Professor Mitchell, read on our blog the posts “Congratulations to Danlee Mitchell on His 80th Birthday” and “A Personal Tribute to Danlee Mitchell,” both by Dr. Lewis Peterman, Danlee’s SDSU colleague, who is past president and, like Danlee, board member emeritus of the CWM.

There is also a fine tribute “Danlee Mitchell (1936 – 2024): the ‘sine qua non’” by Jon Szanto, executor of the Harry Partch Estate.

Last but certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to George Varga at the San Diego Union-Tribune for his feature-length obit for our esteemed colleague, “Danlee Mitchell, a nationally acclaimed San Diego music treasure, is dead at 87.”

 

Silvio Diaz: Empowering Students through Latin Rhythms

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Born in Mexico City, Silvio Diaz grew up in Ensenada and Tijuana in an artistic household. His family produced educational performances for children, featuring puppetry, theater, and music. At a young age, Silvio played various musical instruments, including the clarinet, guitar, and drum set, along with other forms of percussion. Additionally, he participated in his family’s puppetry, theater, and music productions, performing in Mexico, Spain, and the United States.

While performing with his family, Silvio pursued his interest in visual arts and Latin percussion. He attended an arts high school in Mexico City before earning a bachelor’s degree in music composition from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico. His journey as a musician involved playing in several bands, each specializing in different genres—including reggae, rock, and Latin music—while pursuing his own musical goals.

In 2018, Silvio relocated to San Diego to join his father and brother in their percussion ensemble Drummers Without Borders. Since its formation, Drummers Without Borders has been dedicated to providing music education to underserved communities, schools, correctional facilities, and the general public. The group uses rhythm as a fundamental tool to engage students and help them feel a sense of accomplishment. Their programs sometimes end with a parade with large puppets and rows of children marching with drums.

Drummers Without Borders has performed for the Center for World Music in two recent series: “Music on the Move: Border Stories” at The Front Arte Cultura Gallery and “Sound of the Border | Sonido de la Frontera” at Mingei International Museum.As a teaching artist with the CWM’s World Music in the Schools program, Silvio introduces students to the percussive rhythms of Latin America. He encourages his pupils to start simple, try new things, collaborate, and express themselves. His goal is to inspire confidence and teamwork.

Thanks to a partnership between the CWM, San Diego Unified’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Department, the VAPA Foundation, and the California Arts Council, Silvio participated in a program at Balboa Elementary highlighting the music and rhythms of Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.

San Diego’s KUSI News featured this class for bringing culturally relevant music programming into schools:

Silvio teaches for organizations such as the San Diego Guild of Puppetry, Arts Education Connection San Diego, The House of Music, and Bocón Arts. He also enjoys playing music at home with his daughter. His ultimate dream is for everyone to recognize the power of art in education and human development.